Ask the Pros - Help Planning Bucket List Alaska Trip

• Is there someone who can help plan our Alaskan trip? It was always on my mom and dad's bucket list to on an Alaskan fishing trip. Now that my father has passed away she wants to take her kids and grandkids. A total of 6 of us (4 adults, a 4 year old, and a 20 month old). Ideally she would like to fish 2-3 days, we would like to do a day with the bears at Brooks Falls, a whale watching tour, and maybe a day visiting the sled dogs. Where do I start? If I could at least get the fishing booked that would be great. 2-3 days of fishing. Please help :) She would like to fish for salmon and we will be coming in July 2026.

  Thanks!
  Misti

• Hi Misti,

  Thank you so much for reaching out, and I’m very sorry to hear about your father’s passing. It means a lot that your family is considering an Alaska trip that was once on both of your parents bucket list, and we’d be honored to help make it special for your mom and the whole family.

  July is a great time to come to Alaska, especially if your group would like to target salmon. We can absolutely help get the fishing portion lined up first, and that’s a great place to start. For a group of 6 with 4 adults, a 4-year-old, and a 20-month-old, I would recommend planning around 2–3 fishing days depending on how much time your family wants to spend on the water versus doing some of the other activities.

  For fishing in July, salmon options are usually excellent, and we can help talk through whether you’d prefer more action-focused trips, a more relaxed family-friendly pace, or a mix of both. Once we get a better idea of your dates, we can recommend the best fishing plan for your group and get those days reserved.

  The other activities you mentioned all sound like great additions to the trip:

  • A bear viewing day at Brooks Falls or also a bear viewing/salmon trip that leaves from Kenai area
  • A whale watching tour
  • A visit to sled dogs
  • Kasilof River and Kenai River sockeye salmon trips

  Those are all very doable, but they do take some coordination, especially in July, since that is one of the busiest times of year in Alaska. My recommendation would be to secure your fishing days first, then build the rest of the itinerary around those dates. That usually makes the planning process much easier.

  A few things that would help us point you in the right direction:

  • Your approximate travel dates in July 2026
  • Ahere you are planning to stay or what area you want to base out of, we always recommend Soldotna area.
  • Ahether you already have flights booked
  • Aould you like to take Salmon home

  Once I have that, I can help suggest the best fishing plan and give you a better idea of how the rest of the trip could fit together.

  Best,
  Scott

  Scott Daletas - Owner/Guide for Kenai Drift Anglers. Kenai Drift Anglers isn’t a large, all-inclusive fishing lodge—we focus entirely on delivering the ultimate Alaska fishing experience, plain and simple. We guide trips on both the Kenai and Kasilof Rivers, offering flexibility that other operations can’t match. Our fleet includes some of the nicest Kasilof River drift boats and Kenai River power boats in the state because we believe your fishing trip starts with top-tier gear. Our experienced guides bring unmatched local knowledge of the Kenai Peninsula, ensuring you’re always in the right spot at the right time. Whether you're after trophy salmon or world-class trout, Kenai Drift Anglers is dedicated to making your trip unforgettable.

• Misti,

  Congratulations to you and your family checking off an item on your bucket list! Looking at tourist information online for Alaska can definitely be overwhelming. You are ahead of most by knowing what you want to see and experience while you are here! The greater Anchorage area would be a good base/hub for you and your family. While Anchorage is very much a city, it is a great location to get out and do what you want to do. Anchorage is close to tons of flight services that can get you out to see bears at Brooks or other areas. Anchorage is about an hour away from Whittier which will give you access to Prince William Sound for whale watching and glacier viewing. There are also ocean charters for fishing for halibut, cod, etc. From Anchorage you are about an hour and 20 minutes to Willow, which as an epi-center of dog mushing and home to ton's of kennels that have lots of summer activities. There is also a ton of fishing in the Willow area on the Parks Highway river systems. Salmon will be present in the rivers typically around mid-July. Good luck on your trip and please reach out with any questions.

  Cheers - Adam

  Adam Cuthriell - Part owner of FishHound Expeditions. His wife Kathryn Cuthriell and business partner Dave "Reps" Repta make up the rest of the company as well as their dogs Hatch, Rado, and Pike. They fish, live, and guide in Alaska year-round. When not guiding on the rivers they guide ice fishing on Alaska's numerous lakes. Originally from Colorado, he began guiding at the age of 19 while receiving a degree in Outdoor Recreation Leadership. Adam is also a current state of Alaska EMT.

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